BUENOS AIRES, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Fernando Gago will return from injury to play for Boca Juniors' reserves team on Saturday as he bids to earn a berth in Argentina's World Cup squad.

The 32-year-old has not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Argentina's goalless draw against Peru in a World Cup qualifier last October.

He suffered a setback in March when graft tissue in the knee became partially detached just days after he resumed training.

According to the Ole newspaper, Gago trained freely on Friday and has been cleared by medical staff to play for Boca's B team against Union at the Casa Amarilla ground in Buenos Aires.

Gago's career has been beset by a series of soft-tissue injuries. In addition to knee problems, the former Real Madrid player spent almost a full year on the sidelines in 2015 and 2016 after twice rupturing his left Achilles tendon.

In March, Argentina's national team coach Jorge Sampaoli said he would give Gago "until the last minute" to prove his fitness for football's flagship tournament in Russia.

Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign against Iceland on June 16.